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From Football Scars to the Classroom: The Next Chapter of the Shawn Mackey Show

 Why I’m Pivoting My Podcast From Sports to Education and Real Life


Welcome to the end of Season 3 of The Shawn Mackey Show. After taking a short break to watch some Chicago Bears prime-time games and visit my grandson, I went down a massive research rabbit hole. It forced me to take a hard look at where this show has been and where it needs to go next.
If you have followed me since the early Chronicles of a Dumbass days, you know this show has evolved. Originally, I wanted to build a dedicated football and baseball podcast. Sports have been the one constant in my life since I was five years old. I played football, I coached it, and I studied the game.
Why a Pure Sports Show Doesn't Work
After a lot of reflection, I realized I cannot bring you the ultimate sports show—and honestly, I do not want to. The internet is already flooded with former pros, gamblers, and big networks with massive budgets. I do not have the money to pay for NFL or MLB broadcast rights, and dealing with copyright gray areas over video clips and man-cave memorabilia is not in my future.
More importantly, my perspective on football has changed. The game has gotten so fast and explosive that it has become downright dangerous. When my son-in-law recently talked about my grandson playing football, I showed him the surgical scars on my body from my playing days. I am glad I had daughters so I never had to explain why I wouldn't let them play the game I loved.
Going Back to My True Constant: Education
Thirty-four years ago, I went to broadcasting school hoping to break into radio. Life kicked me in the teeth and sent me in a completely different direction. I spent my early college years partying, dropped out, worked full-time, got married, and finally went back to school just before turning 31 because I was paying for it myself and knew what I wanted.
That path led me to teach English, speech, and theater. Looking back, the education system has been the biggest constant in my adult life—and now my daughters are working in it too.
The system has been broken for a very long time. We keep slapping new coats of paint on old problems while doing the exact same things that breed laziness and failure.
What to Expect in Season 4
Starting next season, The Shawn Mackey Show is shifting focus.
  • Real Talk on Education: I will share my unfiltered experiences as an educator, parent, and former student navigating a broken system.
  • Life Stories: I am bringing back the storytelling, sharing the wild turns my life has taken since the late sixties.
  • Sports Opinions: I am not ditching sports completely. When I have a strong take on the Bears, baseball, or the state of football, you are still going to hear it.
I am not claiming to be an expert. I am just a regular guy with a whiteboard, a microphone, and decades of real-world experience. This show is a legacy for my kids and a place for real people to connect. If you are ready for honest conversations without the corporate filter, stick around.
Keep it real,
Shawn Mackey
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